Commentary

Below are edited comments from online readers posted in response to yesterday's lead story, 'Ministry to boot failing principals'.

Who will boot failing politicians?

I keep hearing about performance-based pay for teachers. I hear about booting 'failing' principals. How about performance-based pay for members of Parliament? And, who will boot failing politicians?

Many schools are faced with numerous challenges - parents not pulling their weight, overcrowding, too high a teacher-pupil ratio. Teachers can no longer spank students, so students are spanking teachers. You send students who cannot read to high schools and when you get failures, the principals are to be blamed? Please!

- Mark Wilson

All about accountability

Accountability is the key concept here. Principals, teachers and students must be held to high standards. Our Jamaican students have lost their competitive edge.

There was a time when our students could out-compete students anywhere in the world. Hopefully, we can return to that place.

- Omari

Consider the total picture

Why is there so much talk about booting principals three years out? Let us begin with how we will help principals and teachers of struggling schools. Do they need smaller class sizes? Do they need help with their leadership and supervision skills? Are teachers in these schools current with effective instructional practices? Do these teachers and students have adequate supplementary learning resources at their disposal?

Do we understand that neither teachers nor principals, education officers, etc., have control of how students utilise their time outside of school hours?

Should we boot students who show scant respect for their own learning?

No doubt, trifling principals and teachers must be terminated (before three years) if necessary, but lets begin with empowerment and not the threat of termination.

- Kitty Wally

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